Loose Cannon

I love the characters.

02

Once Rye had left, all that there was left to do was get settled. I’m not entirely sure how anyone could grow accustomed to this place, but I had to try. The overwhelming aroma of smoke was enough to choke a person. By morning I’d have the lungs of a 10 year smoker. Avoid The Fire.

 

Why was that note making such an impression on me? Could this room really have a story? Could there be a reason this town is so quiet.. so dark.. so.. smoky? Maybe the stories Rye mentioned had more to do with this room than I believe.

 

I wish I could see more. It’s like I’m half blind; curse of this dull town. Maybe getting out of this room will help me relax a little. Walking around the room, I blow out each of the candles Rye lit for me. The darkness surrounds me, leaving only a little light coming in from the window.

 

Grabbing the keys to my new room off the dresser, I head for the door. The sooner I’m out of here, the better off I’ll be. As I close the door behind me, a voice startles me. “You don’t have to lock it.” The voice was calm, deep, and a little distant.

 

I turn to see a boy, whose hair is a creamy color of brown with waves more dominant than those you’d see at a beach. His deep, brown eyes are beautiful, but also glazed over. “Didn’t your mother teach you not to stare?” He asks, a noticeable smirk forming on his lips, failing to reach the rest of his expression. My thoughts surround my mother, hitting a nerve.

 

Ignoring his comment, I lock the door anyway. My eyes fall to the carved message before I can remind myself not to look. I take a deep breath, wishing I could just go home. I turn back to the boy, whose eyes are piercing into my skin. “You’re new.” He states the obvious.

 

I force my head to nod, once. “Yeah, lucky me.” I say, sticking my keys in my jean pocket. “Why would you agree to stay in that room?” He asks, his voice suddenly curious, yet his eyes staying faded, his expression vacant. “Okay, you’re the second person to make weird comments about the roo-” I begin, but stop as he begins to walk away, absent mindedly.

 

“Hey!” I call after him, walking behind him. “I was talking to you.” He chuckles, not bothering to stop. “Yes, you were.” He says, and I notice he’s heading for the elevator. “Do you normally just walk away from a person you’re talking to?” I ask, trying to keep pace with him.

 

His eyes travel to mine, shortly, and any confidence in my voice fades. “What’s wrong with the room?” I ask, my voice below a whisper. The boy doesn’t turn to face me again. I notice his jaw line growing tight, as if he’s clenching his teeth together to avoid showing his anger. Just as a comment about my mother hurts me, this room seems to have the same effect.

 

“If you won’t tell me, who will?” I ask, crossing my arms across my body. It can’t be that hard to explain something to someone. Suddenly, his eyes stab into mine, anger rising. “You know for a new girl, you sure are pushy with your questions.”

 

He presses the elevator button, letting his eyes release me. I decide it might be better if I keep my mouth shut. The boy takes a few deep breaths, as if trying to calm himself. Loose cannon. How safe is this school?

 

“I can’t tell you of anyone willing to tell you the story.” He says through gritted teeth. “Wh-” I begin, but stop myself. “I cannot tell you, because no one will. There’s not a soul on this campus that wishes to revisit the past.” He says, turning to face me. I don’t even bother trying to hide my fear.

 

His expression falls back into a vacant blur of nothing. “I’m sorry, I didn’t catch your name.” He says, looking me over, examining each movement I make. “Erica..” I say softly. “Erica Ashe.”

 

The boy watches me for a moment before looking away, failing to say another word. The elevator doors swing open, and I enter. “Your name?” I ask, as I turn back to face the hall. “You don’t need to know mine.” He says, pressing level one. Before the doors swing closed, he exits the elevator. “Wha- Hey!” I try, but I’m too late.

 

I’m left alone in the dark elevator, just hoping I make it out with out it breaking down. With my luck, no one in this town would bother helping me out. The image of the boy is painted across my vision as the elevator reaches the bottom floor.

 

So far, I don’t feel very good about this school. I walk down the hall, and back out into the fog. Maybe walking around the campus, getting a feel for the area, will help sooth my racing heart. I find a path, and begin to follow it. Noticing no one in the yards in front of each dorm, I feel a vacancy overwhelming me. Where is everyone?

 

I come to the end of the dorms, and find myself in the center of a circle of buildings. Each labeled a different subject. Math, English, History, Science. The one on the far left is left unmarked, but I can see lights shinning bright from the windows. It is the most promising.

 

As I open the large, heavy, metal doors, a gust of warm air drags me in. I enter a huge room, lined with tables and chairs. The mess hall. As I scan the room, I notice I’m not alone. At a far table, near one of the many windows, sits a boy and a girl.

 

The boys hair is cut short, defining the oval shape of his head. The girl has slick, golden blonde hair, which is pulled back into a tight pony tail. They sit close together, neither touching the food on the trays before them. I can see that their mouths are moving, but even in this large open space, their voices do not travel.

 

I decide to try my luck with these two and make my way over to them. I stop in front of their table and they both look up. “Yes?” The boy asks. Is anyone polite? The girl elbows him in the ribs. “Hi.” She smiles at me. One person. I sigh with relief. “Hi.. where is everyone?” I ask, looking around.

 

The boy begins to laugh. “Alex shut up, can’t you be nice to anyone?” The girl snaps, glaring him down. She turns back to me, her smile resurfacing. “I’m Jessica.” She says, motioning for me to sit. I slide into a chair as the boy takes a bite of whatever it is that is supposed to be on his plate.

 

“You’re the girl in Maggie’s room right?” He asks, mouth full. “Who?” The name is unfamiliar to me. “513.” Jessica elaborates. I nod. “Who’s Maggie?” My expression must read well, because Alex chuckles. “Don’t look so spooked.”

 

“Maggie was the girl who used to live in your room.” Jessica explains, taking a sip of her drink. “Yeah, she killed herself.” Alex says it so casually, it didn’t process in my mind for a moment. “Killed herself?” My eyes grow wide as Jessica shoves Alex again. “You can’t just come out and say something like that!” “It’s the truth.”

 

“Why’d she kill herself?” I bring the conversation back to the present. “Well...” Alex begins, but looks to Jessica. “We can’t exactly tell you. It’s a bad subject.” Story of my life, it seems. “Who can tell me?” I ask, wanting some answers from anyone. Alex squinted his eyes together, as if he was really considering something. “I don’t think we should tell her about him, Alex.” Jessica says, reading his thoughts.

 

“Tell me about who?” I ask, leaning across the table, unable to control my need. “There’s a boy who lives across the hall from you..” Alex begins, watching Jessica, instead of me. “He’s really cryptic, quiet.. and he hardly speaks to anyone..” Jessica cuts in. “He knows the most about Maggie, but I doubt he’d tell you anything.” Alex says, and suddenly I have to sets of eyes on me.

 

I think back to the boy I met in the hall. “Does he have dark wavy hair? Deep brown eyes... seems like he’s in some kind of zombie state?” I ask and the eyes which are on me grow curious. “You saw him?” Jessica asks. “He talked to me in the hallway.” I say, beginning to wonder why they look so shocked. “But he never talks to anyone!” Alex protests.

 

He talked to me. “There’s got to be a reason he talked to you..” Alex says. “Maybe it’s because she’s in Maggie’s room. I bet that doesn’t make him very happy.” Jessica says, wagging her finger in Alex’s face, as if she’s solved their questions. “That’s not good.” Alex’s eyes flow back to mine. “You might want to avoid him, he could.. be dangerous.”

 

Somehow, this isn’t very reassuring. “Was Maggie.. his girlfriend or something?” I ask, and the two get nervous expressions. They begin to stand, rather speedy. “We really shouldn’t be talking about this to you.” Jessica says. “Yeah, just.. just be careful.. uh..” Alex stammers. “I’m sorry, what was your name?” He asks. “Erica..” I say, and he nods. “Just be careful Erica..” He says, giving me a worried look. “Don’t worry too much about it, it’s all in the past.” Jessica says.

 

If I shouldn’t worry, why do they look so spooked all of a sudden? “You know we really should be going, it was nice to meet you.” Alex says. “Yeah, maybe well have some classes together.” Jessica’s smile returns, but I can hear the near break of hysteria in her voice. “Yeah, maybe.” I nod, watching them hurry out of the mess hall.

 

Is it me, or is there a secret hidden within this school?

Author's Note

do you guys like it so far?

Reviews

[anneliese]

i really like this and the suspense is killing me cuz i really have no clue as to what to what happened. usually i can make some osrt of guess but not now. im looking forward to reading the rest.